FlixBus launched its first services from the South Bay area at the Mary K. Giordano Regional Transit Center in Torrance on March 6.
City officials and Torrance Transit System officials, along with representatives from FlixBus, celebrated the occasion with a ribbon cutting Thursday.
FlixBus will offer day trips to San Diego as well as downtown Los Angeles. The service will operate two trips per day on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and one trip on Tuesday.
“For the first time ever, the South Bay now has direct service to San Diego as a day trip, using FlixBus for its residents,” said Kim Turner, Torrance Transit System director, at Thursday’s event. “By integrating FlixBus service into the Mary Kay Giordano Regional Transit Center, Torrance’s connection to key destinations in the Southern California region has now been enhanced.”
Depending on various factors, including the time customers leave or how far advance the trip is booked, a day excursion to San Diego could cost between $25 to $40, according to Sara Tohamy, government affairs and strategic partnerships for the western region with FlixBus, at Thursday’s event.
“We pride ourselves on being a very affordable service,” Tohamy said.
“This is the first South Bay stop that we have in our network,” Tohamy added. “We’re really excited to be here at this beautiful facility to serve the South Bay.”
According to its website, FlixBus was launched in 2013 and serves more than 40 countries on four continents with more than 5,500 buses on the road.
“Flix addresses an ever-growing long-distance bus and train market and driven by increased awareness for the environment in society, and aims to become carbon neutral in Europe by 2040 and globally by 2050,” according to its website.
“Our mission is to make long distance travel more affordable, sustainable and accessible by integrating inner city bus service into this regional hub, we’re creating new opportunities for residents and visitors by connecting them to key destinations like San Diego, Las Vegas and beyond,” Tohamy said Thursday. “This is about more than just adding a stop to our network. It’s about strengthening Southern California’s transportation ecosystem and making travel easier and more accessible for everyone.”
Tohamy added, “By integrating FlixBus into this hub, we’re helping keep more people connected, whether they are traveling for work, education, medical care, visiting family or exploring all that Southern California has to offer. This is just the beginning for us, and we’re looking forward to serving torrents and growing together in the months ahead.”
Torrance Mayor George Chen said FlixBus “strengthens our regional connectivity.”
“We look forward to seeing this service thrive for many years to come,” Chen said Thursday.
The Mary K. Giordano Regional Transit Center is located at 465 Crenshaw Blvd.
For more information, visit flixbus.com or transit.torranceca.gov.